YAY! I am so excited! I finally finished my 1937 McCall dress suit. I originally started it back at the beginning of January thinking I would finish it for my birthday. Well, that's been and gone but I almost made it (just one day late) for my birthday month.
I used McCall 9156, a beautiful pattern from 1937. The dress is in one piece with a high neck (I left off the bow) and a faux button placket down the front. The dress closes with a side zipper. It also has a matching collarless jacket.
One of the things that initially made me pass up this pattern many times in my sewing queue was the sleeves. Now I think that is my favourite element of the dress! There are darts at both the top and bottom of the sleeve giving it that unique shape. Another one of my favourite things about the pattern is how it lends itself to mixing and matching colours. I used a pumpkin shade of silk dupioni for the bodice and a delicious brown wool (a present from my Dad) for the skirt and contrast cuffs/neckband/button placket.
One of the most time consuming elements of the dress was sewing the faux button placket down the front. It's only the buttons that are tacking the placket in place on the bodice. I picked lovely small ball buttons in a matching pumpkin shade and they were surprisingly difficult to sew on--they kept moving around and are small and hard to keep a grip on (though my cat was quite entertained watching me and praying for the chance that one of them might escape so she could play with it)!
I was just lucky enough to catch the last of the daylight for the photos. I hiked up to Calton Hill--a great vantage point in Edinburgh and caught a delightful sunset!
I really love this dress and am happy with my first creation of 2012!
Dress and Jacket: Made by Me
Shoes: Wildfell Hall Vintage (I won in a giveaway hosted by Quincy from Q's Daydream Vintage)
